Author Topic: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal? (Read 2315 times)

Hoser · « **on:** February 03, 2005, 01:50:56 AM »

I have seen many balls for sale on line and thought, "that's a good price, I should buy one". Then you have to get it drilled. The Pro Shops around me charge $70.00, plus tax, to drill a ball! Example, I've seen a Storm Hot Rod Pro Stock Pearl for sale on line for around $95.00 with free shipping. Good price. But now I have to get it drilled. I'm not "in" with the Pro Shop guys, so they're going to charge me $76.50 including tax to drill. That's $171.50. The Pro Shop sells the same ball for $159.99 plus tax, and that includes drilling. That's just one example. I know there are some good deals out there and you could save some money. But if you're an average Joe like myself and have to pay full price for drilling, it doesn't seem to me that you'll save a ton. I think I would rather support my local Pro Shop and buy local. Just my thoughts on the matter.

Tony

jkiser01 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2005, 12:14:27 PM »

joeschmoe,

Those prices are the highest I have ever heard of on here. I would walk into that guys shop and tell him to "get a life" if he think he can charge people $88 to drill a blank ball, but if people are willing to pay that, he will stay in business.

People just need to stop going to him and tell him its because his prices are way out of line.. He is probably some old timer who knows his days as a pro shop owner are numbered and no doubt blames the interenet and not his price gouging..

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If they only made a ball that would carry that da_n 7 pin (and I am right handed!!)

jkiser01

Edited on 2/3/2005 1:14 PM

JPRLane1 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2005, 12:18:54 PM »

Man as someone else mentioned I hope you guys are asking for lube before these rapings occur.

jkiser01's proshop owner has the right idea and sounds about like my ball driller. Basically if you are a smart business man you can coexist with the big internet wholesalers. Would you rather be a SOB and get paid to drill 4or5 balls a week and make $60 to $70 dollars each or would you rather be a nice guy get more business in general and drill 10-15 balls a week at $30 to $40 a pop.

To answer the original question basically for some it is cheaper to buy online myself included but as you can see from the replys for others it is not better but perhaps more costly for them.
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I should just quit bowling, oh wait I already tried that.

Now that I am back and my Saws are sharp again, I am ready to cut some wood.

gypsies97 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2005, 12:32:11 PM »

about the savings, i 've bought from pro shops and from over internet, and i've found that buying high performance balls over the internet are the only real savings you get.

i mean, if you look around your pro shop, you'll notice that all their high performance balls sell for the same price, $219, then add the tax and the inserts and slugs. So it'll come to around $250.

you'll usually save about $50 or more per ball ( and that's after your drilling)buying over the internet.

now take for example , an entry level ball or mid performance ball add the shipping and your $40 drill and inserts etc, you now only save maybe $10-$15 if that.

well, that's my experience anyway

seadrive · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2005, 03:17:11 PM »

In your case, since you're getting raped, the answer is no. There's no way you're going to save money buying online, when you have to pay $75 to get the ball drilled.

For people who don't need the lube as much as you do, the answer is... it depends.

Mostly on the ball you want to buy. If it's a high-end, expensive ball, then yes, you can save money by buying it online, assuming you can get someone to drill it for around 30 bucks.

At the other end of the spectrum, plastic and low-end balls, fuggedaboudit, you'll wind up spending more than if you bought it in the local shop.

Let's say you want a plastic spare ball. A Target Zone runs you 35 bucks + shipping from Buddies; let's say $45 shipped. Now you pay $30 to get it drilled, and your total cost, without grips and slugs, is $75.

You can get a Target Zone just about anywhere for less than that, including drilling and tax.

If you buy 3+ high-end balls per year, and you can get them drilled at a reasonable price, you can save yourself a few bucks by buying online.

Me, I'd rather save a whole bunch more, by buying single-drill used balls, usually in excellent shape, from the good people of ballreviews.com!

Yes, it's true, I really am cheaper than jkiser01!

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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

a_ak57 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 03, 2005, 03:23:22 PM »

Jkiser, prepare to faint then. The pro shop in the house (which i'm leaving after this season but that's another story), charges 60 to drill a blank. THen 10 for grips, and 30 for a thumb slug. Not sure how much he charges for a weight hole but probably 5 or 10. So, not including a weighthole, it's $100 plus tax. I bought and had my power groove drilled (obviously at another shop) for less than that.
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- Andy

Brunswick..........'Nuff said.

Like quantums? LIke activator? Check this out!

DonSVO · « **Reply #21 on:** February 03, 2005, 03:51:36 PM »

i have my balls drilled/slugs for $25-30, depending on his mood. $35 for a fill-N-drill when i want to shange a layout or i bring in a used ball. i drive 40 miles one-way, don't shop anywhere else for the 'little stuff', and i have had my shop punch up/change 9 balls for me in about a year and 4 months, so i always get taken care of.

$35 for a fill-N-drill, including custom thumb slugs... and you're paying $70 for a straight-up drill? LOL, the only thing getting drilled is your sphincter muscle!!!
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i don't care who makes it, how much it costs, or how sexy the ball looks. can i carry the 7 and level the deck with a $60 ball?

bring on the Lefty uprising!

wiu86 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2005, 11:26:39 PM »

Just had a ball plugged , re-drilled , inserts and thumb slug for $50.

Rick Wunder · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2005, 09:42:35 AM »

The owner of our shop, who has a life, and therefore needs to make a living, has changed his pricing in the past few months. We now charge virtually the same for a ball as the internet merchants. Drilling is not included, and is the same whether you buy the ball from us or elsewhere. We provide the same service to anyone, with only one difference: We cannot go to bat for the customer when a warranty issue arises. He/she must go back to where the ball was purchased for warranty issues.

I will not get into the discussion about the charge for a blank drill. The numbers being tossed about cannot be compared, because there are too many factors involved, including, but not necessarily limited to, cost of living in the area, amount and level of competition, and value for the money. Our customers leave our shop extremely satisfied with their fits. In some cases, they are amazed. You get what you pay for.
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RW (THB)

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2005, 08:37:20 PM »

Why do almost all Pro Shops that aren't "on line pro shops" say they can't even buy the ball to sell at their shop for what on line shops are selling them for?

Is this just a statement to not lower their price, or is it really true?

If true, how do on line pro shops buy the balls cheaper than non on line shops?

I've heard in the past that it is because the on line shops simply drop ship from the manafactuer on everything, but recently both a Brunswick and Storm rep deny that their companies do this?....So how can the online shops sell cheaper than non on line pro shops can buy the balls for?
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Why do you need my signature?....You know who I am.

Edited on 2/4/2005 9:36 PM

Rev_O · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2005, 10:42:28 PM »

Send me your ball, your specs, and i'll drill it for you for $20.
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Rev-O

Track International Amateur Staff Member
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nagyiii/detail?.dir=5406&.dnm=9e95.jpg&.src=ph

RSalas · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2005, 10:58:43 PM »

At $70 to $100 out the door for a blank drill with inserts, if you purchase more than a few balls a year, you just might be better off in the long run buying a press and doing 'em yourself.

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"Dispensing conventional wisdom to a fingertip world."

Horrid in Doubles, torrid in Singles...
...that's The Curse of Dusty.

Buckiboy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 06, 2005, 06:10:54 PM »

$70.00 is absurd! Thats darn near the price of the ball. Going price is $25.00 straight up then add $5.00 for inserts and $7.00 more for thumb insert. You may want to deal with someone on the net that will drill it for you. The next time someone drills your ball ask for the drill specs. It will cost a little more but not $70.00 more.
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No matter how many times you throw a bowling ball it always comes back!

Author Topic: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal? (Read 2315 times)

Hoser

Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

jkiser01

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

JPRLane1

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

gypsies97

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

seadrive

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

a_ak57

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

DonSVO

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

wiu86

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

Rick Wunder

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

Brickguy221

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

Rev_O

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

RSalas

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?

Buckiboy

Re: Is buying a bowling ball on-line really a good deal?